COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners gave formal approval on Tuesday for renovations to the Circuit, District and Probate Courts in the courthouse at an estimated cost not to exceed $2-point-8 million.
The Commissioners have allocated $3 million of the county’s ARPA funds for courtroom and bathroom renovations in the courthouse along with painting and caulking. But almost a third of that money has already been spent in the building.
Commissioners requested cuts from the original plans that would have cost $3-point-1 million.
Part of the funding for the courtroom renovations will come from the sale of the old Michigan Indigent Defense Commission office at 61 East Chicago and from grants.
While agreeing it was time to move forward, Commission Chair Tim Stoll felt it would be better to have the funds in place.
The old Public Defender building is no longer needed by the County and Commissioners approved a request by Norman to sell it on Tuesday.
Branch County Emergency Management was using part of the building but will move to an office at Michigan State University Extension on Marshall Road.
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